Hi everyone,
Please i need a very professional advice on the right choice to advance my career in the oil and gas industry.I hold a masters degree in Energy from Heriot-Watt University and i am now interested in undertaking a management degree from a reputable institution that would enhance my employability after graduation.
I currently hold an offer to study oil and gas management Mba at Robert Gordon University and another offer to study MSc-Information Technology,Management and Organizational Change from Lancaster University Management School.
I am not particularly interested in securing a job in the UK after graduation but i want to choose the best option that is ideal for my career ,that has the greater global reputation and brighter prospects even outside the UK and will guarantee my securing excellent job after my graduation.
Thanks
Regards.

It's very hard to offer an opinion on this, since I don't understand why you are not already working in the industry. If you are, then take a part-time MBA. If not, then work out why you are not already in the industry. It might be something that neither of these programmes will give you.

Eager to switch my career from Information Technology to Energy Sector. Been working in Global Sales for an Indian IT firm for last 3 years and planning to go for an MBA in Natural resources and Energy management.
However, Not sure how will this sector treat someone without any hands-on experience in the similar industry. But i feel, MBA will suffice the skills required to enter in Energy sector. Hope my assumption is correct. Any advice will be appreciated

Can you move diagonally? Move into a business development role for a IT solution for energy? Or into a sales role for an energy firm? It certainly seems like you have one of the top programmes in your sights: http://www.find-mba.com/specializations/9/energy-and-natural-resources

Thanks Duncan. Would be more interested in the Latter Role as want to work for an Energy firm directly or Any other role as closely associated with Natural resources/Energy management.
Have already gone through all schools mentioned in the Link and i find Haas, Alberta, Calgary and Mays attractive as i believe, Americas would have better opportunities post MBA.

Totally agree; those schools will give you much more.

Great. How will you rate European schools(Rankings and Post MBA opportunities) listed there as i've found some schools affordable(Cost wise) than the American schools.

Hello All,

Please advise me on this. I have an admit from Lancaster fot ITMOC program. My exp: 4.5 years IT + 2 years in Business. I would like to know if this study would help me better in value addition in terms of my job back in India. This is very crucial to me cos I see that my wedding may happen next year and I have to see my job back in India. Also I am unsure about the ROI, course worth, and other factors on funds and job. Please advise me. I am yet to accept the offer. Want to listen to some experts advise before I step into anything.

Thanks,
Sowmya

This might be a good question to ask in an Indian website.

Thanks Duncan, but otherwise how is the ROI at UK? In general I was concerned with ROI and jobs and funds. If not India, I would also like to otherwise know the information within UK as well. Response to this will be helpful.

Regards,
Sowmya

I think it would be worth speaking to Lancaster about this. I think you're a little too experienced for the roles that this MSc prepared people for. You would be more an an MBA-type candidate...

As a student on RGU's part-time Oil and Gas Management MBA living and working in Aberdeen I'll say that the course is well known and well regarded in the industry, and came highly recommended. If anyone has any questions I'll answer them here.

Dear Duncan,
what are the prspects after doing an MBA in oil and gas
what kind of role can 1 look forward to in oila nad gas industry afer doing MBA
i have 4-5 yrs exp in oil and gas domain. looking forward to excel in mamagement field of expertise in the same domain.
is one year study @ RGU enough to get in an organisation in management role?

thnks
ajay

I'm not sure if that was for me or not (I'm a different Duncan!) In my experience, management positions in oil and gas tend to go to people who have either worked their way up within the industry, or switched from a similar position in another industry. An MBA will not provide an automatic step-up to a management job unless you have suitable experience to go with it.

Personally I like to think that my MBA will compliment my existing knowledge and skills and open up new opportunities since I made the move into oil and gas management (from a different industry).

There are bad managers who have MBAs and good managers who don't. An MBA doesn't prove anything, but it may get you a step closer to an interview.

Hi, I fully agree with Duncan2:
" In my experience, management positions in oil and gas tend to go to people who have either worked their way up within the industry, or switched from a similar position in another industry"

I have 16 years Maritime experience, last 6 years as Chief Engineer within the Norwegian Offshore fleet doing Construction, Diving Support and pipe-laying. B.o.Sc in Marine Engineering 36 years old. My goal primary goal is to move into a more senior Management position as E. g Project Manager, Technical Fleet Manager etc. This does not necessary require an MBA but it will certainly be helpful and I believe a very good compliment to a technical background in order to see a fuller picture of the industry.

I would need to do the On-line version and I would like it to be very directed towards the O&G business I. e in direct relation to company's within the industry. I would like to strengthen my position in a field I already know with a stronger tie towards the Oil and Gas than Marine which seems to always bring me back to following two schools:

Warwick University
RGU Aberdeen

Now, Warwick with its high rankings and RGU as they seems to be very directed towards the O&G industry. What would be your choice based upon my previous writing? are there other University's with equal/higher status UK or US based you would recommend?

Many Thanks

Jimmy

If you could make time for some in-class residency sessions, Warwick's blended Global Energy MBA seems like it's right up your alley. Keep in mind that residency sessions are great for building soft skills like leadership; these are an important part of the MBA experience but tend not to be addressed in programs that take place entirely online.

There are also programs like Calgary's Global Energy Executive MBA, which aren't online but delivered through 2.5 week-long residency sessions - and which might have cohorts that are more similar to your profile, in terms of expertise and work experience.

That said, both the Warwick and the RGU programs are good. And as far as I know, they're the only two schools that offer online programs with a focus in energy.

You should also talk to the schools, to get a sense of how you would fit in programs, as well as what you could expect in terms of career services, networking, etc.

Ezra,
Many thanks for your reply and advice,
I do have time and possibility for some (focus on some/limited) in-class campus sessions which would further strengthen the option of Warwick.

Even though Calgary are attractive it requires too much campus time. However one thing I tend to see is that the US university's are in average more expensive than the UK based university's - correct me if I am wrong - but if I am not, does this in any way reflect the standard of the education? Usually you get what you pay for

I also read in some of the posts here that the US based university's still does dominate and especially within the Oil and Gas market for obvious reasons - but isn't that something that is about to change as more and more EU/UK based university's ad Energy/Oil and Gas as an option.

Regarding Warwick vs RGU:
As you said Ezra "both are good"

As I can see it, Warwick as a triple credited, highly ranked university must reasonably provide one with at least a "Good" or "Very Good" MBA which should be recognized world wide.

However RGU really do focus more on the actual Oil and Gas part of the energy sector and for that reason it would be at least for me - more interesting to study. They pretty much pinpoint my needs and it is located in Aberdeen which speaks for itself. But than again not triple credited.

So, how much weight should one put on the accreditation of a university as in this case? Any advice?

Many Thanks,

Jimmy